ABSTRACT
The breathtaking pace of political and economic reforms that Albania witnessed after 1992 led to far-reaching social transformations. The postcommunist government, operating in an environment of scarce resources, went to great lengths to address the plight of the population and to mitigate the impact of the transition for the thousands of Albanians in poverty or near poverty. The possibility of Albanians Kosova’s eventual union with Albania also seems to have created apprehension in some parts of the country. The radical economic transformation had driven major industries out of business, thereby marginalizing the trade union movement both politically and economically. The principal objectives of the program were to broaden the country’s economic and democratic base by strengthening the middle class and attracting foreign capital to support key industries. Lack of public accountability for political and economic transactions threatened to discredit both the political and the business establishments, as many ordinary citizens came to believe that everything was for sale.
